Lightning-arrester.



W. R. GARTON.

LIGHTNING ARRBSTBR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.11, 1907.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

stant irrespective of atmosp i highly hygroscopic nature,

tact or 1 rent, and capability of `ductive parts UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM B. GABTON, OECHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR' T0 CHARLES J'. GRIFFIN, 0F

` MONTEZUMA,' IOWA.

LIGHTNING-ABRESTEB.

To all 'whom 'it my concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. GARTON, a citizen of the United' States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lightning arresters, and has for -its salient object to provide a lightning arrester for association with an. electrical conductor, which will atv all times dissipate static effect from the conductor, and prevent the accumulation of a static charge thereon, and which will effectively prevent the passage of sneak currents or leakage.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a lightning arrester wherein uniform conditions of resistance to electric curdischarge of static effectA may. be maintained.

eric conditions. A yet further object of my invention is to provide a lightning arrester which is sim an which requires little attention after installation. v

In the single figure of the drawing I have indicated by vertical cross sectional view a convenient. construction .of lightning arrester embodying my invention, and such constructionI will 'nowY describe generally and in detail.

In the generalembodiment of my invention I provide separated, electrically conor terminals for connection respectively with the line conductor and the ground, and in contact with one such terbody of material of a capable of giving oi its moisture to a dry atmosphere, which said body extends into proximity to the other conductor but is electrically insu lated from contact therewith.v

It is well known that moist air dissipatcs and prevents the accumulation of static char e, and my invention provides means tending to equalize at all times the atmospheric conditions between a grounded conterminal and the terminal connected with the line. hThe material which I employ minal I arrange a ,for this purposevis preferably of relatively low conductivity and is capable of absorbing moisture from the atmos here when the air is humid and giving o such moisture Specication of Letterslatent. Application `1ed November 11, 1907. Serial No. 401,573.

practically. con- Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

when the atmospheric condition becomes drier, so acting as an equalizing body, to insure the maintenance around the electrically separated parts of a Huid or vapor of suiiicient moistness to readily dissipate static charges from the line. Further I preferably rovide in conjunction with the` material bo y of the character described, an envelop of durable material, of such mechanically absorbent or capillary qualities as to prevent the incased equalizing body from too rapidly absorbing or giving o moisture, and of such strength as to give form to and preserve the integrity of the equalizing body.

In the specific construction shown I provide upon a suitable base, 10, electrically conductive terminals 11 and 12 in separated relation, it being my preference that such terminals shall be massive and composed of materil not liable to oxidation, such as carbon. e'tween such terminals I arrange an equalizing body 13 of such chemical construction as to have good hygroscopic qualities and relatively poor electrical conductivity, as described, a suitable combination being chlorid of potassium and chlorid of sodium in equal parts in coarse granular form, although obviously other materials may be used. The body 18 extends from a point of contact with the terminal 12 to a point adjacent but preferably out of contact with the terminal 11, and preferably is insulated from terminal 11.

14 indicates a tube of asbestos or vother suitable material, durable in its nature, sufficiently strong to give form to the material body 13, and of such capillary qualities as to im ede but not prevent the absorption and dlssipation of moisture by the equalizing body 13, which is surrounds, The top of the tube 14 I also perferably close by an asbestos washer, 15, separated somewhat from the carbon block 11 to .f aiordl an' air gap, the insulation of the washer 15 from the terminal 11 being preferably augmented by the insertion vbelow the terminal of a mica washer 16, preferably provided with perforations `/17 at points surrounding the subjacent asbestos Washer 15.

In conjunction with the parts described, I preferably provide a receptacle `for -receiving and retaining such free moisture 'as may accumulate in the neighborhood of the chemical body 13, such receptacles Ainthe specific construction shown consistin of an insulating cup 18 in the bottom o which the terminal 12 is seated. In the specific structure indicated the arrester is-intended for installation in vertical osition, and clips 19, 20 and 21 are provided) in suitable position to respectively secure with respect to the base the terminal 11, casing 14 and receptacle 18.

23 and 24 respectively indicate binding posts connected by wires 25 and 26 respectively With the terminals 11 and 12 (Wire 26 being sealed in receptacle 18) and ada ted for connection by wires 27 and 28 with the line conductor and the ground respectively.

construction described e The entire structure may be incased if desired, and hermetically sealed so that proper conditions, initially created may be definitely maintained.

It will be apparent t0 -those skilled in the art, however, that my invention is not limited to the particular form of devices shown in the drawingfor purposes of illustration, and that the positions and relations of the parts might be changed without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In operation it will be understood that the material body 18, of` very poor electrical conductivity, absorbs moisture from the air when the air is humid, and gives off such moisture when the air is dry, an equalizing medium and insuring the constant maintenance of a vaporous or humid atmospheric condition between such material body and the electrically-non-contactingterminal l1, so that static effect on the line conductors to which said terminal 11 is connected maybe eiiiciently dissipated.

I have found from ex erience that the iiEiciently prevents material leakage of electric current from the line by reason of the air gap and mica insulation as well as the relative non-conductivity of the incased hygrosco ic body, and et'ectively prevents arcing y either static or dynamic discharge. Although capable of discharging the effect of li htning if the line be struck, I believe that t e protector is usually effective in preventing such striking of the line, asv the continuous dissipation of the staticcharge prevents the i building up of as great a difference of potential between the Wire and higher atmospheric strata as would otherwise revail and so tends to act as a protector against as well as an arrester of lightning strokes.

I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not desire my invention to be limited to the use of the specific materials described to productJ the desired eiect, as any material or materials of a .chemical character which will produce the desired effect will fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

so acting as' Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

1. A lightnin arrester, comprising terminals in separated relation, and an equalizing body having the ualities of absorbin moisture from humid1 air and giving o moisture to drier air, interposed between said 3. In a lightning arrester, separated terminals, an interposed equalizing body of material of liygroscopic character, contact-- ing with .one terminal and electrically in- -sulated from the other terminal, and an envelop of material absorbent by'ca illary action surrounding said equalizing gody.

4. In a lightning arrester, separated nonoxidizing termina s, an interposed comminuted, liygroscopic, equalizing body, and an asbestos casing surrounding and giving form to said comminuted body. 5. In a li htning arrester, separated carbon terminas, an interposed body of comminuted, hygroscopic substance, contacting with one terminal and insulated from the other, and a casing surrounding'the said body.

6. In a lightning arrester, a pair of vertically separated contacts, a rece tacle surrounding the lower contact; an as estos tube extending upward from the lower contact into proximity to the upper contact, and a body of hygroscopic material .of low conductivity incased in said tube, contacting with the lower terminal and non-contacting with the upper terminal.

47.l In a lightning arrester, non-contacting conductive parts, and means comprising a body of character humid atmosphere or give off moisture to drier air, for maintaining between the conductive parts a vaporous condition.

8. In a lightning arrester, the combination with non-contacting conductors, of means for maintaining between said conductors a vaporous condition, com rising a body having an affinity for and ad) collect the moisture of the atmosphere.

9. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a'terminal, and a body of material having an aiiinity for and adapted to collect moisture of the atmosphere, electrically insulated from, but in operative proximity to 7 said terminal.

10. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a liquid rece arated therefrom an by capillary action tacle, a terminal sepan element absorbent extending from the apted toy liquid receptacle into proximity to said terminal. a i A 11. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a liquid receptacle, a terminal separated therefrom, an element absorbent by capillary action, having one end immersed in said receptacle andDits other end arranged in proximity to said terminal, and means for automatically maintaining a supply of water in said receptacle, comprising a body of material having an affinity for the moisture of the atmosphere.

12. In a lightning arrester, the combination of separated conductors and' an interposed body of material containing chlorid of potassium.

18. In a lightning arrester, the combination of separated conductors and an interposed body of material containing chlorid of sodium.

taele, and a capillary element extending from said receptacle into proximity to, but insulated from the terminal.

16. In a lightning arrester, a reeeptaele for moisture, means for maintaining mois ture therein comprising a body having an affinity for moisture of the air, and a terminal insulated from said receptacle.

17. In a lightning arrester, the combination of separated terminals, a moisture receptacle surrounding one terminal, a body of'material having affinity for moisture of the atmosphere arranged to maintain moisture in said receptacle and a capillary element extending from said receptacle toward the outside terminal.

18. In a lightning arrester, vseparated terminals, a cup surroundin one terminal, a tube of capillary materia? extending from said terminal in the cup into proximity to the outside terminal, and a body of equalizing material in the tube.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM R. GARTON.

In the presence of- GEo. T. MAY, Jr.,

MARY F.ALLEN. 

